[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 83 (Monday, May 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10360]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 2, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To
Allow Incidental Take of the Threatened Northern Spotted Owl (Strix
occidentalis caurina) and the Threatened Marbled Murrelet
(Brachyramphus marmoratus marmoratus) on Lands Administered by the
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) and Washington State Department of Natural Resources
(WDNR) intend to gather information necessary for the preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS will consider a permit
application by the WDNR to take federally listed species, under the
provisions of section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act). This notice is being furnished pursuant to
the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing The
Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Regulations (40 CFR 1508.22).
To satisfy both Federal and State Environmental Policy Act
requirements, the Service and WDNR are conducting a joint scoping
process for the preparation of an EIS. Interested agencies,
organizations, and individuals are encouraged to provide written
comments on the issues which should be addressed in the EIS to the
Service or WDNR.
DATES: Written comments regarding the scope of the EIS should be
received on or before May 31, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the scope of the EIS should be addressed
to Mr. Curt Smitch, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3773 Martin Way
East, Building C, suite 101, Olympia, WA 98501.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments received will be available
for public inspection by appointment during normal business hours (8
a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) at the Washington Department of
Natural Resources, 1111 Washington St. SE., Olympia, WA; for
appointment call Nonie Hall at (206) 902-1405.
As a further opportunity for interested persons to comment on this
scope of the EIS, scoping workshops are scheduled as follows:
May 5, 1994. Thurston County Courthouse, Bldg. 1, Room
152, Olympia, WA.
May 10, 1994. Skagit Valley College, Ford Hall, Room F-
101, Mt. Vernon, WA.
May 11, 1994. Port Townsend High School, 1500 Van Ness
Street, Port Townsend, WA.
May 17, 1994. Ellensberg High School, Ellensberg, VA.
May 18, 1994. City Library, 621 K Street, Hoquiam, WA.
May 19, 1994. Sunrise Elementary School, Enumclaw, WA.
May 24, 1994. Vancouver Public Utility District, Meeting Room, 8600
NE 117th Ave., Vancouver, WA.
All scoping workshops will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Interested persons may contact John Engbring at (206) 53-9330 or Nonie
Hall at (206) 902-1405 to receive additional information, including
maps for the workshop locations.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: WDNR manages approximately 2.1 million acres
of state forest land, 2 million acres of aquatic land (primarily
tidelands and bedlands), and 1 million acres of range, agricultural and
urban land.
WDNR has launched an effort to address species conservation and
ecosystem health issues on the lands it manages statewide. The effort
will include the development of a habitat conservation plan, as allowed
under section 10 of the Act, for forested lands to preserve and protect
wildlife and fish while continuing commodity production.
WDNR's goal is to develop a comprehensive species conservation and
habitat management plan for forested state trust lands. It is WDNR's
intent for the plan to achieve the following objectives.
1. Meet the legal requirements for section 10 incidental take
permits for selected threatened or endangered species;
2. Obtain agreements for selected species that are candidates for
listing;
3. Make an appropriate contribution to the conservation of other
forest associated species (with the intent of reducing the likelihood
of future listings);
4. Develop conservation strategies for salmon habitat;
5. Integrate long-term forest health strategies with conservation
strategies for northern spotted owl on WDNR managed forests in Eastern
Washington; and
6. Meet all the common law duties of a trustee.
The proposed plan will consider the specific needs of those species
for which an incidental take permit will be requested (the northern
spotted owl and the marbled murrelet). In addition, the needs of native
salmon and other forest associated species that may be listed within
ten years will be addressed. Once completed, WDNR will submit the plan
as part of the permit application process required under the provisions
of section 10(a)(2)(A) of the Act. The Service will evaluate the
incidental take permit application and plan in accordance with section
10(a)(2)(B) of the Act, and its implementing regulations.
The environmental review of this project will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of NEPA and its implementing
regulations.
Dated: April 25, 1994.
Don Weathers,
Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-10360 Filed 4-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
